For those with LT's in the Houston area..

Thinking about getting a set of Lt's and I was wondering if I should get a set with emission fittings or not? If I get them without emission fittings how am I going to pass inspection or were can I get my car passed? :D

I don't think anyone on here is stupid enough to tell you, on an open board, where you can get an illegal sticker.
I suggest that you keep all your emission equipment in working order. You wouldn't loose any HP and you wouldn't have to worry about being ticketed.

If I were to use a duel cat y-pipe would I be able to pass with Lt's?

If I were to use a duel cat y-pipe would I be able to pass with Lt's?

I pass without a problem. On 96+ (OBDII) cars they only plug it into a computer and make sure you're car isn't throwing any DTC's, some don't even look under the hood for emissions fittings or under the car for cats. I'm running cats with my LT's, but I have O2 sims for the rear O2's.

Last time I got my car inspected they stuck that tube in my tailpipe while it was running. Wouldn't that be able to tell if I was running cats or not?

Last time I got my car inspected they stuck that tube in my tailpipe while it was running. Wouldn't that be able to tell if I was running cats or not?
Yep, they can tell real quick.

Make your life easier and get cats. Its a pain, its more expensive, it may cost you a hp or 2.

Ryan

Yea, it's a pain and it doesn't go away until the car is 25 yrs old. I hate having to deal with this every year. Now that they have (or had) the emissions testing equipment on the on ramps to freeways there is a bigger chance of getting caught.

For what its worth, I would be surprised if you got a ticket from those smog machines on the freeway entrances. Stock motors run pretty clean. However, I ran through a couple of them and its a pretty crappy feeling. Just build up some speed, stab the clutch, and coast through it. Obviously, you probably don't want to go through it doing a burnout, although I'd pay to see that :D.

Jeremy, you could probably slap a cat on there and put your emission fittings back on. I'm almost positive those headers accept emission fittings. So, how anxious are you to spend a couple hundred bucks for emission crap?

Ryan

It's a pain to get inspected, but it sure does sound cool! 'sides, I'm good until January of next year...

If I spend a couple hundred bucks on anything (besides the F'n A/C compressor!) It will probably be a set of black wheel for the GTO- tired of it looking stock.

Brook: They are on 290 every now and then, on I10 (west of the beltway) more frequently, and on 288. I'm certain they are everywhere in town,. but that is where I've seen them (my normal routes). Normally, they stay on one entrance ramp for a week, then move. The most common place I've seen them is the 610-288south connector. You can't miss them. Its a small white uhaul-type van with orange cones setup on the entrance.

Ryan

I heard (I think on here) that if you get caught by one of those machines they send you a ticket via cerified mail.

Yep, they can tell real quick.
nope..
thats the sniffer.. you can have no cats and still pass a sniffer if your car is doing its job well.. if you have engine problems thne perhaps not..
my 1995 had no cats and it would always pass sniffer but it would take longer than normal to do it.. most can do it within a min or two while mine would take over 4 min..

I heard (I think on here) that if you get caught by one of those machines they send you a ticket via cerified mail.

Yup. Just like running through the EZ tag lane...

Ryan

These machines are normally placed on the "on ramps" because you are excellerating to get on the freeway. It needs exhaust to read. If you coast though them with your foot off the gas, there is nothing to read and you wouldn't get a ticket. Or so I've been told.

These machines are normally placed on the "on ramps" because you are excellerating to get on the freeway. It needs exhaust to read. If you coast though them with your foot off the gas, there is nothing to read and you wouldn't get a ticket. Or so I've been told.

Your car is always pumping out fumes. Obviously, you're sucking in more air when you accelerate (raise rpms). The more air you suck in the more exhaust you are going to put out. These machines "suck" the air into them like a vacuum.

Once again, I'd be surprised if you coasted through one of these sniffers at 30mph at 1000rpms and got a ticket (stock motor ofcourse). After a cam, you're asking for it.

Keep in mind all counties that border Harris county follow Harris county regulations :(.

Ryan

These machines are normally placed on the "on ramps" because you are excellerating to get on the freeway. It needs exhaust to read. If you coast though them with your foot off the gas, there is nothing to read and you wouldn't get a ticket. Or so I've been told.
I was with a buddy of mine in Houston a few months back in his 94 Z28 running LTs, no cat and SLP Loudmouth catback. We saw one of those machines on an onramp late one night when heading home, he just built up speed and shut the car off and we rolled past it. Once we got away from it, he dropped the clutch and went along like nothing happened, lol. It's been a few months now and no ticket has been sent to him yet, so I guess it works.... :shrug:

I dread the day that OK starts testing again. I can't imagine how I would ever get mine to pass. Probably with a case of beer, lol.

I have heard of people with stock exhaust/engines getting tickets from those darn things.

What happens if you are not a local and pass through one, I am assuming you can still get the ticket even though you are not required to be inspected.

I live off 290 and Beltway 8. I have seen that truck quit a few times. I have even heard one guy got pulled over by the "Black Knight" DPS officer that runs around 290 and 1960. He said when he got pulled over this white u-haul type truck pulled up and was there for a minute or two and left. DPS officer wrote him a ticket and told him not to ring a pic of his cats on, cause it would not hold up in court.
I personally have never ran through on of the on ramps with this truck there. I run FLP LT's, no cats (their in the garage), FLP Y pipe, Borla Catback.